Aunt Margaret moved to TN the first of November and we finally found
some time to visit with her. She is living six hours away (much better
then across the country). She was having a rough time and needed a
getaway so we drove the six hours down to her place. Stayed the night,
went to her family ward, and drove her back to our place the next day.
She stayed with us three days and then Zachery and I drove her back. He LOVED her dogs and kept asking for one.

While Margaret was visiting we started a painting project that is still not finished

tired Fried Green Tomatoes for the first time, which weren't as bad as I thought

and did a blind folded taste test on the kids.

Margaret made them a Spinach and Bacon Grilled Cheese sandwich. I have extremely picking kids, RJ is the worst. Anything green is gross and it is very hard to get them to even taste something new. With the blindfolds on we first gave them a piece of banana bread to throw them off since they knew something "bad" was coming. After they gobbled up the bread we gave them a slice of sandwich.

Savannah guessed there was salad in it, RJ thought it was just grilled cheese with bacon and said it was pretty good. Zachery peaked before he tried it said "eww, it's green", which caused RJ to rip his blindfold off.

RJ was done after that and refused to eat another bite. We convinced him it was just green cheese, Savannah and Zachery both finished theirs, but RJ wouldn't touch it again after knowing it was "green" cheese. Later we explained that it was spinach and Savannah was pretty proud of herself for eating spinach. It was a fun night full of some good laughter.

Here is my buddy driving back home with me after dropping Margaret back off in TN. He was a good travel complaining. He watched a few movies, took a nap, and let me enjoy some talks on tape. We made good timing home.

The kids have seemed to luck out with several three day weekends during the month of January and a few in February. The Lynchburg School District will cancel school at the slightest sign of a snow flurry. I understand the hills + ice + buses don't mix well. And VA doesn't get that much snow, so most people aren't equipped to drive in it. I know the schools are thinking of our safety, but some days are just ridiculous. Today was one of them. Last night school was delayed 2 two hours on account of freezing rain and in the morning they decided to cancel it completely. Yes, there was ice on the cars and yes it was cold outside. But not that cold and the ice was melted by 10am. Nothing more came. So, we had a lazy cozy day at home. It seems storms always roll our way on Fridays and the schools get cancelled, and the storms dissolve before they even do anything and then we get a free three day weekend. I'm really not complaining. The kids work so hard during the week, it is nice to have a lazy unexpected day to relax and be kids without having to worry about getting homework done before bath time or scout night. It is nice to watch them play together and it is sure nice to have someone else entrain Zachery for awhile.

Today was of course a Friday when school was cancelled for a big ice storm that never really came. Grandma was here visiting. We I slpet in, made beligian waffles for breakfast with homemade strawberry syrup and left over homemade whipped topping. Then we all cuddled on the couch watched Pete's Dragon. Grandma and Savannah had a tea party and read books while Zachery took his nap and RJ played his new Skylander Wii game. It was a nice lazy relaxing day.

A few Friday's back during one of our "snow" days in January, I made a "laser" course for the kids. They put a treasure on the other side of the "laser beams" and had fun trying to reach it without setting off an alarm. I sure do love pinterest!

Sunday, February 10, 2013

We spent New Years Day in Disneyland, which I don't recommend! It was BUSY, much too crowded. But California Adventure wasn't too bad. We still had a fun time, who wouldn't? Just being in Disneyland is magical.

January 2nd we met our cousins at a near park before leaving Southern California. This was very exciting because we hadn't seen these two cuties for just over three years. They had been living in Thailand for the past two years and we met Abby only once, very briefly, when both she and Zac were barley three months old. So it was a special treat to reconnect with them. The kids spent a good hour+ playing at the park like they never parted. Makale ran from the camera every time I came near. But I was able to snap this smile of him. However Savannah and Abby were all smiles whenever the camera was pointed in their direction. Savannah had a blast playing with a girl and she said that was the best part of her trip to California. I couldn't believe Abby beet seeing Cinderella, but she did.

We then went to Sacramento and enjoyed a brunch at IHOP with Grandpa Wight on the 3rd of January. We enjoyed or visit with him and the kids each got a motorcycle ride and enjoyed playing with his three dogs, two cats, and parrot.

Back in Fairfield we said our Goodbyes to Grandma and Grandpa Pearce.The kids always enjoy teasing Grandpa and spending time with Grandma Sammie. With sad goodbyes and promises of future visits we made out way back to Grandma and Grandpa Bartley's. Where we got all our stuff packed and cuddled on the couch watching another game of football. We enjoyed hanging out there and playing with our uncles. Mommy got a few runs in which was really nice since the weather was great, the scenery gorgeous, and the terrain fairly flat. And Grandma Bartley makes the best homemade dinners. It was hard to leave. But on January 5th we woke up early and spent a long day on airplanes flying back across the country.

We got back into our school routine, which was really hard to do. I think it took a two weeks for the kids to handle the early mornings again. But they enjoyed catching up with their friends and getting back to the normalcy of life. On January 11th RJ toke his mom out for a night down town. We got all fancy-ed up and walked the red carpet to hear the results for the Lights Camera Lynchburg video contest. His class came in third place in their category for their entry and then at the end of the night they were rewarded with the viewer choice award and $600. I have never seen such an excited group of third graders. I then treated RJ to dessert at the Main St. Eatry and his eyes jumped out of his head when they rolled the cart of desserts to our table. We shared two pieces of cake because we couldn't decide one. Overall it was a memorable night.

At the end of the month Jared took a new job position within his company. He is now in management with a sweet new office (no more cubicles), a three level jump, and big pay raise. Of course he has been working harder and longer, but so far he seems to be enjoying it.

My sister also came to visit for a few days at the end of the month. We enjoyed the visit with her. I will hopefully get some pictures of the fun blind fold test she performed on the kids while she was here posted here soon and I will hopefully do a little better as the year goes on getting things posted. Life has been busy, but we are sure enjoying the ride.